Assigm



(Model.)

F. W. SMITH.

DOOR SPRING.

N0. 246,982. Patented Sept 13,1881.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRED. WV. SMITH, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 GEORGE PURINTON, OF SAME PLAOE.

DOOR-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION orming part of Letters Patent 1\To. 246,982, dated September 13, 1881.

Applcation filed February 24, 1881. (Model) T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it kn0wn that I, FRED. W. SMITH, of Freeport, county of Stephenson, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Door-Springs, of whioh the following is a speoification.

My improvement consists in the manner of forming the spring and the eombination ofthe various parts incorporated therein, whioh parts in their relation to the spring serve to reader said spring more oheap, durable, and efiect- There have been and are objeotionable features existing in springs of this elass, and I have by stndy and experiment devised the grouping of the varlous elements whieh, although not new in hemselves, are essential and novel features in the eombination I have devised.

The first element in my improvement consists of the two coils C 0, the arms 0 0, the inwardly-projecting ends C C, and theloop D, formed from a single piece of wire, whieh aan De wound direetly around the eore B in l1e form shown in Figure 1.

The eore B (shown nnoovered in Fig. 2) is peeuliarly adapted to the purpose for whieh it is intended. 'iwo triangularconical lugs projeet from the center, grooved indentations being ormed on eitl1er side thereof, and the perpendieular 'aees of said lngs are curved inwardly. Tl1e grooves and ouwe oftl1e 'aoe of the lugs are about Ollllllf the thiokness of the wire orming the spring. A seetional view of the lugs, cut transversely through the eore at the apex of the lugs, is shown in Fig. 3, having the wire in position. 'lhe oore is further provided with the opening (I, in whioh to plaee the emlof the detachable arm E, Figs. 1 and 3.

It will be seen by Fig. 3 that with the loop D in position on lug u the arm E, when thrust in the hole, is at right angles to the arn1s C.

These elements as grouped in Fig. 1, represent a complete spring, A,-with the exception of the parts to be used in attaching the same to the door er casing.

The improvements to be noted in the spring A are these: By the method of forming the eore with lugs, as shown, and the wire with a shortloop, D, the ooils O 0 aan he wound direetly upon the core or on two tl1in metallic sleeves, whieh may be used to surround the Gore during the-process of winding.

the coils are ormedand the c0re snbsequently inserted. It is lurther an improvement in that, the loop being very short aml elosely fitting. the core, it is never possible for the eoils 0 0 to spread enough to allow the core 'to drop rom between them,andit can never be pullexl or foreed laterally out ofthe ooils. It is further an improvement, and a very vital one,in the matter of shipping the eompleted spring, as the arm E is not inserted in the opening d until it is applied to the door.

It is now eustomary to form the spring so that the arms C C are at right angles to the equimlent to the arm E, whieh equivalent is either an elongated loop or a single arm continuous from one of the coils. Springs so formed are eumbersome to pack, and therefore the arms are toreed into a parallel position and there seeured, and tl1us shipped to the various dealers. They may be kept en hand by the dealer for a eonsiderable time, perbaps from seasoi1 to season, and it must naturally ollow that the o0mpressed state of the spring must serve to set the wire, and thus defeat the very object of having the arms at right angles When formecl, which is tohave a reserve force in the spring.

Byhavingthe arm E detachable anrl notinsertedin the opening, the spring.ean be shipped in the naturel state and subject to 110 tension whatever, and no length of time aan injure or set the spring. It is t'urther an improvement for the reason that the tension of the spring aan he inereased, if desired, or, if weakened by use, aan he renewed. This is aecomplished by tnrning the core baekward until the loop 1) overlaps the opening d. The arm E is then inserted and takes the plaoe of thelug a. The

dotted lines, Fig. 3, show this position. It aan further be inereased by reversing nntilthe loop D overlaps lug Z). Thus the tension aan he increased on the spring as needed or desired loy quarter-turns. This class of springs, as now formed, aan only be inereased in tension by a full turn, which is more objeetionable tl1an Thisisa mucl1 eheaper method of winding tl1an when the weakened. spring. I contemplate, if it should be desirable to make larger and stron ger springs,to increase the number of lugs, sothat; the tension can be increased by eighths. As a further feature of improvement; I have (levised the attachments shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 represents the attaeh1nent; to go on the easing. This plate aan De out laterally across the center, and thus form two attaoh1nents for single arms.

The device now used consists of a-platewith twoeyes at eitherend,into whioh the ends C C are thrust. I hawe found that that method is very insecure, forthereason that the arms O O are liable to spread and foroe the ends C 0 out of the eyes. I h2we noticed several oases in which a wire has been used to bind the two arms together to prewent; this. Plate F, Fig. 4, is formed with two overlapping; triangular lugs, 0 e, two projections,ff, and two projecting lugs, g The ends 0 O" are placed between the long open side of the lugs e 6 and theprojections ffand forced slightly outward- 1y ancl back upon the plate F. Then, being allowed to resume their natural postion, the

:mgle is oarried inwardly under the lug, resting against the broad inner si(le of same. I have shown by (lotted lnes on the npperlug, Fig. 4, the position when about to enter, and by solirl lines the position when in. Lug g prevents any lateral motion of the arms, and the tenson of the spring aots direotly to draw end C farther inward, unless in certain positions, when the point f Wlll pre"ent any outward moton, unless a twist is given the arm. No position of the spring will ever do that, so there is no (langer of the mms escaping vith out; other influenoe. Plate G, Fig. 5, is designed to go on the door. It consists of a ourved outward-projeoting lip, h, and two projectons, i 1. This is placed on the door with its closecl part toward the hinge side thereof, and serves to l1old the hooked or looped end of arm E.

I am aware, as stated, that the mrions elements forming this spring are not new and novel only as they are grouped an(l combined in the spring shown. As they are, as far as known to me new, in this combination, and as by this combination I am ahle to eheaply produce a durable, oonvenient, aml mach more perfect; spring than any now formed, Idesire Letters Patent coveriug the same, based on these speoifications and the following claims.

I olaim 1. 'Ihe core formed with lngs a b, grooves c 0 0 0, and opening d, arranged in combination with the detachable arm E, the ooils (3 C, and loop D. as shown an(l described.

2. The plate I, With its lngs e 0 and projectons ff aml g g, arranged for securing the hooked arm E to the door, substantially as de scribed.

3. The curved plate G, with its lip h aml 1u gs i i,arranged for seouring the hooked arm E to the door, substantially as descrbed.

4. The combination of a door-spring formed of the coils O O, loop D, arms C C, core B, and detaohable arm l), together with the attaohing-plates F and G, as shown aml described.

FRED. W. SMITH.

Wtnesses:

M. E. W1L00X0N, CHAS. N. HAMMON. 

